8 Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter, from NAR

Winter isn’t traditionally the busy season for real estate, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t advantages to selling during the colder months. For winter homesellers, here are eight tips from the National Association of Realtors®.

1. Focus on curb appeal. 

Home exteriors generally aren’t as colorful or bright in the winter, but curb appeal counts all year round. NAR recommends cleaning up fallen leaves and dead branches and utilizing potted, winter-friendly plants to your advantage. A wreath and a fresh welcome mat can help, too. 

2. Make the exterior safe. 

In cold and snowy states like Pennsylvania especially, it’s important to keep home exteriors safe from ice and winter weather. Clear the driveway and walking paths to prevent potential buyers from slipping. 

3. Spruce up the interior. 

On the inside, NAR guides sellers to declutter and clean all rooms before adding warmth using throw pillows and blankets. If applicable, sellers can also light their fireplaces during open houses to create more of a cozy, warm and welcoming atmosphere.  

4. Add potted indoor plants. 

Many plants don’t thrive in the cold, but indoor plants can be easily kept to freshen up the space and liven the interior, like flowering plants or an herb garden. 

5. Light it up. 

Winter in Pennsylvania is often dark, so sellers shouldn’t be afraid to illuminate their homes. Allow more natural light in by cleaning windows and opening curtains/blinds. Replace burned out lightbulbs and consider adding/turning on some lamps during showings. 

6. Warm it up. 

Make sure your home is comfortable for visiting homebuyers. A cold home will feel uninviting. 

7. Accommodate showing requests. 

“The answer to showing requests should almost always be yes,” NAR says. “Don’t miss out on showing your beautiful home to motivated buyers.” This can be particularly challenging around the holiday season, but increased exposure is beneficial for homes on the market.  

8. Pay attention to the senses. 

It might be tempting to light fragrant candles, but buyers may be sensitive to strong smells. Opt for clean scents or subtle scents, like vanilla, citrus and cinnamon, instead.